Inside Chris Rock's History Of Cheating Scandals

Chris Rock has had a storied career as an entertainer that started in stand-up comedy when he was only 17. "My first 15 times onstage I killed — like, really big laughs," Rock told Rolling Stone. "Then I got a little cocky, and I proceeded to not get laughs for the next four years." And while Rock had a rough start, he told the publication that his persistence helped him become even greater. 

The New York native would eventually go on to become arguably one of the biggest comedians in the industry. Long before the now-infamous slap heard around the world between Rock and Will Smith, the comedian fell into a public scandal of his own related to his marriage. Rock's lucrative comedy career would ultimately prove to be hurtful to his marriage to Malaak Compton-Rock. The former couple finalized their divorce in 2016, and the "Top Five" star's alleged affairs were rumored to have caused the split. 

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Chris Rock and his ex-wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, announced their split in 2014. The couple, who share two children together, officially divorced two years later, according to documents obtained by TMZ. The documents also revealed that the couple were co-parents to a third child, however, details of the child's relationship to the pair were not revealed. Before the messy divorce, Rock's marriage to his ex-wife was plagued with cheating rumors.

"It was my fault, I was a piece of s***," Rock said in a 2017 stand-up routine, per Rolling Stone. Rock didn't shy away from the accusations; the actor revealed his infidelity happened with three other women, including one who was a notable celebrity. Page Six later reported that the entertainer's rumored fling was with his "I Think I Love My Wife" co-star, Kerry Washington.

And while neither Rock nor Washington have ever publicly addressed the speculation, the comedian further discussed his infidelities in his 2018 Netflix special, "Tambourine." "It's my fault because I'm a f***ing a**hole. I didn't listen," he said, per Us Weekly. Adding, "I wasn't kind. I had an attitude. I thought, 'I pay for everything, I can do what I want." His outlook proved to be troublesome, with Rock reflecting, "That s*** don't f***ing work." 

Following his messy cheating scandal and subsequent divorce, Chris Rock began dating actress Megalyn Echikunwoke, but the pair split after four years in 2020, per Page Six. Following his relationship with Echikunwoke, the comedian was romantically linked to "Selma" star Carmen Ejogo. According to People, Rock and Ejogo were spotted grabbing dinner in New York City in September 2020, and then in Malibu a month later. However, Rock or Ejogo never explicitly confirmed their rumored relationship.

And while Rock doesn't share many details of his private life in interviews, he often jokes about his experiences in his comedy. During an appearance on "The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon," Rock suggested that his friend, fellow comedian John Mulaney — whose public divorce was scandalized by his own shady behavior — should hire Rock's ex-wife's lawyer. "Mulaney's getting divorced," Rock told Fallon. "I recommended my ex-wife's divorce lawyer. I was like, 'You should get this guy. He'll get you your money. This guy is good.' I walked out with nothing." Indeed, Page Six reported Rock's ex sought a sizable portion of the comedian's $70 million as part of their divorce settlement. Given his history of cheating scandals, we can understand why.